Editorial: Cushy tree settlement

The sweetheart deal between the state and Bill Salter Outdoor Advertising of Pace is at least puzzling. At most, it shows problems with the state Department of Transportation's willingness to enforce laws to protect the environment.

What started out as a case involving $4 million in fines for damage caused by cutting 2,000 trees to place billboards along Interstate 10 turned out to be an agreement to pay $50 per tree. And if that's not bad enough, the company has six years to pay the $100,000 settlement.

The incident shows government at its worst -failing to protect the environment and giving someone a pass.

Reporter Louis Cooper on Wednesday reported that the case goes back to 2009, when Salter Outdoor Advertising received permits to remove 2,000 trees in front of 100 of its signs along the interstate but didn't pay mitigation permit fees to the tune of $1 million to $4 million.

The settlement was announced in July, but was publicly announced Monday only after the Florida Times-Union started asking questions. The Jacksonville newspaper has investigated the case as it unfolded.

The agreement has several problems:

» The transportation department should have pressed for a higher amount in the settlement. The department should be obligated to collect fair fines. During a December visit Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad, extolled the virtues of people paying their own way for the roads and bridges they use. Does that philosophy also apply to those who owe millions to the department, Mr. Secretary?

» The grand jury empaneled to investigate the incident said in a 2012 report that Salter was "in flagrant violation of the law" when it destroyed the trees and refused to pay the fees. It also said Salter used state Sen. Greg Evers of Baker, then a state representative, to get special treatment with the transportation department. However, no charges were handed up. If there was evidence of influence peddling, at least an ethics violation should have been filed.

» The role of Evers shows what can happen when a lawmaker gets involved in a civil case against a constituent. Lawmakers should stick to making laws, not helping someone out of hot water.

» The settlement included a reference to ambiguous state laws. "The DOT believes there is ambiguity in the law as to whether non-conforming sign permits must be surrendered because of vegetation management permits issued for existing signs," the settlement reads. With the Legislature convening next week for its annual session, we trust a lawmaker - Sen. Evers, perhaps - to make sure the law is crystal clear.

Salter should have been held accountable for its damage to the environment. The punishment should have been heavier than $100,000.

We know local, state and federal budgets are strained by declining revenues. Agencies can offset those losses by enforcing laws and assessing firm but fair fines. To accept such a settlement, leaving a $3.9 million gap between estimated damage and the fine, is unacceptable.

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Editorial: Cushy tree settlement

The sweetheart deal between the state and Bill Salter Outdoor Advertising of Pace is at least puzzling. At most, it shows problems with the state Department of Transportation's willingness to enforce